Control device for liquid dispensers



Aug. 10, 1965 R. B. TAYLQR ETAL 3 ,7

CONTROL DEVICE FOR LIQUID DISPENSERS Original Filed May 19, 1961 16Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TORI R RT B. TAYLOR RSEERT G. WALKER ATTORNEYSAug. 10, 1965 R. B. TAYLOR ETAL CONTROL DEVICE FOR LIQUID DISPENSERS l6Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed May 19, 1961 1965 R. B. TAYLOR ETAL3,199,728

CONTROL DEVICE FOR LIQUID DISPENSERS Original Filed May 19, 1961 16Sheets$heet 5 f? l 65 I i I! H 1 I" ""W I L I IF W'H 1 IN V EN TORS ROERT E: TAYLOR RO ERT G. WALKER ATTORN EYS 1965 R. B. TAYLOR ETAL3,199,728

CONTROL DEVICE FOR LIQUID DISPENSERS Original Filed May 19. 1961 16SheetsSheet 4 37 I9 v 1 '/A I H10! mm 1 89 1 INVENTORS 58%? 8; W8

ATTOR NEYS Aug. 10, 1965 R. B. TAYLOR ETAL CONTROL DEVICE FOR LIQUIDDISPENSERS l6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed May 19, 1961 FIG. 5

Aug. 10, 1965 R. B. TAYLOR ETAL 3,199,723

CONTROL DEVICE FOR LIQUID DISPENSERS Original Filed May 19, 1961 16Sheets-Sheet 6 IN V EN TORS R BERT B. TAYLOR R BERT G WALKER aws/W- ATTORN EYS Aug. 10, 1965 R. B. TAYLOR ETAL 3,199,723

CONTROL DEVICE FOR LIQUID DISPENSERS Original Filed May 19, 1961 16Sheets-Sheet '7 wlIllllllu ggwv saw fig INVENTORS ROBERT E). TAYLORROBERT G. WALKER ATTORNEYS Aug. 10, 1965 R. B. TAYLOR ETAL 3,199,728

CONTROL DEVICE FOR LIQUID DISPENSERS Original Filed May 19. 1961 16Sheets-Sheet 8 IIIIIIIIIII INVENTORS ROBERT E). TAYLOR ROBERT G. WALKERATTORNEYS Aug. 10, 1965 R. B. TAYLOR ETAL CONTROL DEVICE FOR LIQUIDDISPENSERS l6 Sheets-Sheet 9 Original Filed May 19, 1961 FIG. l5

FIG. 14

INVENTOR! ROBERT B. TAYLOR ROBERT G. WALKER BY ATTORNEYS Aug. 10, 1965R. B. TAYLOR ETAL 3,199,728

CONTROL DEVICE FOR LIQUID DISPENSERS Original Filed May 19, 1961 16Sheets-Sheet 10 IN VEN TOR! ROBERT E. TAYLOR ROBERT G. WALKER ATTO RNEYS 1965 R. B. TAYLOR ETAL 3,199,728

CONTROL DEVICE FOR LIQUID DISPENSERS Original Filed May 19. 1961 16Sheets-Sheet 11 l!) 0 IO m l at I O I0 8 s N N m m 8 1 r:

m N N 01 N s 7 rr a I w 3- g I m Q9 N (\I 2 N s 5 LL :0 m m l\ A! N O r0N g 8 5 cn N 10 IO N r0 I!) m 03 r? N m m g 53 n r0 8 ('3 r- N g m N '0N INVENTORS ROBERT E. TAYLOR ROBERT G. WALKER ATTORNEYS 1965 R. B.TAYLOR ETAL 3, 99,728

CONTROL DEVICE FOR LIQUID DISPENSERS Original Filed May 19, 1961 16Sheets-Sheet 13 FIG. 24

IN VEN TOR! F I G. 2 l ROBERT E. TAYLOR ROBERT c. WALKER BYWiWATI'ORNEYS Aug. 10, 1965 R. B. TAYLOR ETAL CONTROL DEVICE FOR LIQUIDDISPENSERS Original Filed May 19, 1961 16 Sheets-Sheet 15 E 4|3o 1 r I21; 1 I

2 I a I I m |o|+ I l 4 83;-" i I I I I l?! l 1 FIG 26 I -|03 I"? ol IN VEN TORS BYWVIZ-MA/ ATTORNEYS 1965 R. B. TAYLOR ETAL 3,199,728

CONTROL DEVICE FOR LIQUID DISPENSERS Original Filed May 19, 1961 16Sheets-Sheet 16 ROBERT ES ROBERT G: WALKER ATTORNEYS United StatesPatent CONTRQL DEVICE FUR LIQUID DISPENSERS Robert B. Taylor and RobertG. Walker, Fort Wayne, Ind

assignors to August I. Lassus, Jr., Elmer L. Lassus, and

William F. Lassus, all of Fort Wayne, Ind. Continuation of appiicationSer. No. 111,330, May 19,

1961. This application Mar. 23, 1964, Ser. No. 355,992 13 Claims. (=31.2222t') This is a continuation of patent application, Serial No.111,330, filed May 19, 1961, entitled Control Device for LiquidDispensers.

This invention relates to a control device for liquid dispensers havingparticular utility in cooperation with liquid fuel dispensing apparatus.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a controldevice for automatically operating flow control valves of gasoline andother fuel dispensers whereby a predetermined amount of a fuel may bedelivered accurately without continued attention on the part of theservice station operator and which can be attached to substantially anyconventional computer type dispenser.

It is a further particular object of the present invention to provide acontrol device for automatically shutting off liquid flow from an outletnozzle of a dispenser when a selected monetary value of the liquid hasflowed through the outlet nozzle.

A further object is to provide such a device which may be attached tosubstantially any conventional fuel dispensing device withoutsubstantial modification thereof and which may be selectively utilizedto control the flow from the dispenser outlet or the dispenser may beemployed without control from the control device.

A further object is to provide a control device for liquid dispenserswherein the flow of liquid may be interrupted or stopped at the outletnozzle or at any preselected zone between the outlet nozzle and thefluid pumping means.

Further objects are to provide such a control device for liquiddispensers that is compact, requires no independent source of power, isreadily attachable and detachable from conventional fluid dispensingdevices, is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, reliable in use, andsafeguarded against explosive hazards when dispensing readily flammablefuels.

These and other objects and advantages are provided in a liquiddispenser having a liquid supply means adapted to convey liquids from asource thereof to an outlet nozzle, said nozzle having a suitablecontrol valve, a computer, a flow metering device adapted to determinethe volume discharge through said outlet nozzle, a control devicecooperating with the liquid dispenser and adapted to discontinue liquidflow from said outlet nozzle when a selected monetary value of liquidhas flowed therethrough, said control device comprising: actuator meansconnected to the computer to be driven thereby at the rate proportionalto the flow of fluid through the flow metering device, impulse pressuremeans adapted to close the control valve, impulse pressure release meansactuated by the actuator means, and manually operated means for cockingand for setting the impulse pressure release means at a positioncorresponding to a selected monetary value of fluid flowing through theflow metering device.

The invention will be more particularly described in reference to theaccompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of a control device for liquid dispensersembodying the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary partial sectional right side view of thecontrol device shown in FIGURE 1 with some of the internal structuresremoved for clarity;

FIGURE 3 is a partial sectional top plan view of the device shown inFIGURES l and 2 with portions of the internal structures removed forclarity;

FIGURE 4 is a partial sectional front elevational view of the controldevice shown in FIGURES 1 through 3 with a portion of the internalstructures removed for clarity;

FIGURE 5 is a partial sectional left side elevational view of the deviceshown in FIGURES 1 through 4 with a portion of the internal structuresremoved for clarity;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the device of thepresent invention attached to a fuel dispensing unit;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view of a portion of thedrive means connecting the control device shown in FIGURES 1 through 5to the computer mechanism of a fuel dispensing unit;

FIGURE 8 is a vertical elevational view of the structure shown in FIGURE7;

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of a coupling structure employed in the presentinvention;

FIGURE 10 is a side elevational view of the structures shown in FIGURE9;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary sectional view of the structure illustratedin FIGURES 9 and 10 inserted in a fuel dispensing conduit;

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary sectional view of a swivel connected to aportion of a dispensing nozzle such as shown in FIGURE 15;

FIGURE 13 is a top plan view of the device shown in FIGURE 12;

FIGURE 14 is a side view of a conventional dispensing nozzle and swivel;

FIGURE 15 is a view similar to that shown in FIGURE 14 modified toinclude the automatic control means of the present invention;

FIGURE 16 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a portion of theflow control nozzle shown in FIG- URE 14;

FIGURE 17 is a fragmentary side section of the fuel dispensing nozzlemodified to include the features of the present invention;

FIGURE 18 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 1S-18 of FIGURE 19 ofa dispensing nozzle modified to include the principles of the presentinvention;

FIGURE 19 is a sectional view substantially on line 1919 of FIGURE 18;

FIGURE 20 is a fragmentary sectional view of a pressure actuated flowcontrol device which may be employed in conjunction with the controlmeans of the present invention;

FIGURE 21 is a fragmentary partial sectional view of a modified form offlow control valve interconnected with the control device of the presentinvention;

FIGURE 22 is a fragmentary partial sectional view of the device shown inFIGURE 21 with the control valve in the closed position;

FIGURE 23 is a section substantially on line 2323 of FIGURE 22;

FIGURE 24 is a fragmentary partial sectional view substantially on line24-24 of FIGURE 21;

FIGURE 25 is a diagrammatical representation of an electrical controldevice for liquid dispensers embodying the principles of the presentinvention;

FIGURE 26 is a diagrammatic view of a double throw, double pole switchutilized in the electrical control device shown in FIGURE 25; and

FIGURE 27 is a diagrammatical representation of a further form ofelectrical control means for the control device for liquid dispensersembodying the principles of the present invention.

Description of invention Primarily our invention concerns a means ofcontrol ling, automatically, the delivery of gasoline from aconventional type dispenser in such a manner as to effect the deliveryof any predetermined amount of fuel without the close attention of theoperator.

There are now in use'devices such as special automatic nozzles whichwill shut off delivery from a dispenser connected to a bulk supply intoa tank or container when the liquid level in the'said tank or containerreaches a level where the delivery end of the said nozzle is submerged.These automatic nozzles have been developed into very useful devices andare widely used in the dispensing of gasoline and other fuels forinternal combustion engines.

However, with the'relatively high percentage of buyers asking for thedelivery of a predetermined amount of fuel, generally based on themonetary value thereof, the automatic nozzle will not suflice, eventhough it still provides a safety factor to prevent overflowof the tankor container into which the fuel is delivered. This could be importantwhere the buyer has overestimated the amount of fuel he needs to fillhis container and where said buyer has asked for a predetermined amount.While the situation just described will likely arise from time to time,it has been found that generally the purchaser will buy less than thefull capacity of the tank or container; indeed,

frequently only a very small amount.

The need for a device which is simple, relatively inexpensive and yetreliable and which is capable of controlling accurately the delivery offuel so that a substantially exact amount will be delivered without anymanual attention by the operator during delivery, is apparent. Since theprimary object of such an invention is to relieve the operator of thedispenser of the close attention to the detail of delivery so that saidoperator may be free to perform other tasks while delivery is effected,it also follows that any such device must be simple to operate andquick- 1y set and, importantly, it must not impose on said operator anytask, mental or physical, which would be required to operate thedispenser in an ordinary manner, manually, or as shown such a controldevice were not installed.

We have invented a device which fulfills the require mentsoutlined'herein above. Within seconds the operator can preset the exactamount of fuel to be delivered'and then operate the dispenser in thenormal manner, leaving the nozzle unattended. When the predeterminedamount of fuel has been delivered, the dispenser will stop deliveryautomatically. The indicators of amount of fuel and the value of saidfuel will indicate exactly as normally in the dispenser. If afterdelivery of the predetermined amount it is found necessary or desirableto continue delivery, it is only necessary to proceed as if the controlunit were not attached since it becomes inoperative after it hasperformed its function. There are no levers to move or other pointsneeding attention by the operator; if it should be necessary to stopdelivery of the fuel before the completion of delivery of thepredetermined amount set on the control, it is done just as if thecontrol unit were not attached since the control is driven by theindicator.

Obviously, even with a control capable of operating accurately it isalso necessary to translate into action some other device, especiallysome type of valve, which performs the work of shutting off the flow ofliquid fuel at precisely the correct time. Moreover, there must be somemeans of communication between the control unit and the valve throughwhich means a signal or impulse can be carried with sufiicient speed toinsure the closing of the valve atexactly the proper time. Such means ofcommunication, in order to be consistently dependable, should notcontemplate the use of outside forces, other than electrical in specialapplications, but should be self contained.

Our invention conforms to these requirements as will be seen from thedescription which follows.

In general, for reasons of safety, it is not desirable to useelectricity in the control of fuel delivery due to the ever presentdanger of fire. There may be some particular situations where the use ofelectricity has great advantage, and we have provided for the control tooperate electrical circuits where such an installation is necessary,using, of course, approved explosion proof switches and wiring therefor.

To understand the full nature of our invention, reference is made to thedrawings.

Referring to FIGURES 1 through 6, our control unit is shown inapproximately correct full size as it appears to the attendant. Let usconsider first the principles upon which the device works. Since itmustprovide for stopping delivery of fuel at a precise moment which latteris determined by the advance of the counter or flow metering device inthe regular dispenser, it isclear that the control must be perfectlysynchronized with the operation of said counter. Suitable counter orflow metering devices are shown in U.S. Patents 2,874,875 and 2,814,444.This is accomplished by actually driving the control unit from the mainshaft of the said counter or metering device by means of a flexibleshaft 15. The control unit requires substantially no power to drive itand therefore does not impede the operation of the counter. Assuming,therefore, that the timing can be accomplished in a suitable manner, itnow is necessary to provide a force which will be transmitted from thecontrol unit to a mechanism designed to shut off the flow of fuel almostinstantaneously in order that when the flow of fuel stops the counterwill register the exact amount within very narrow limits. This isaccomplished by providing fora quick pulse of air pressure whichoriginates in a cylinder and piston assembly in the control unit, saidpiston being first cocked or pulled away from normal position againstthe force of a relatively strong spring and held in this position untilthe timing mechanism releases the piston to be driven by the spring,thus sending out an impulse of air at a pressure of substantiallydifferent value from that of the atmosphere.

. It might be a positive or negative pressure, as may be required by thevalve mechanism, which serves to shut 05 the flow of t e'fuel. This airimpulse travels to the controlled valve through a hollow tube 17 andsaid tube may be all'or in part of flexible material.

The amount of fuel to be delivered at any one time is set by operationof dial 3 which is graduated in amounts in this case represented by themonetary value of the fuel delivered, as here in dollars and halfdollars. Obviously, other values could be used or more divisions,

but experience in service stations has shown that usually a customerbuys in even amounts, possibly to simplify payment.

The dial 3 does not influence the start of delivery of the fuel as thislatter is done in the normal manner. The

- dial 3 does, however, control the time of stopping the delivery whenthe control unit is in use. Therefore, it is imperative that there bealways the impulse of air available for shutting off the delivery whenthe proper time comes. For this reason it is provided, as will be shown,that the dial can not be set until the lever or manual operator 1 ispulled downward from position X to position Y, by which action thepiston is cocked ready to bereleased'at the proper time and deliver theimpulse to the controlled valve.

To operate the device, therefore, the attendant first pulls down thelever 1 from X to Y position where it is held until manually operateddial 3 is turned clock wise after first pushing said dial 3 inwardtoward the body of the unit and holding in the inward position whileturning to set said dial 3 to indicate the desired amount under pointer9, whereupon the push against the dial is released. This is done forseveral reasons, of which an important one is to assure proper registryof the amount. On the hub of dial 3, behind the face thereof, there is apin located as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. The face plate of the controlunit is provided with a circular hole of sufficient diameter to permitthe hub of the dial 3 to pass therethrough with ample clearance.However, the hub 18 of the dial 3 can not pass through the face plate 13except in the exact locations of slots 11 located radially around theperiphery of the hole into which the hub 18 of the dial 3 may be pushed.It is necessary that pin 5 be located opposite one of the slots in orderto allow the dial 3 to retract to its normal position. Since the slotsare located in substantially precise spacing as the graduations orindicia of the face of dial 3, it follows that when the dial 3 is turnedto the approximate proper degree the pin 5 will pass through a slot 13,corresponding, and the control unit is set ready for fuel delivery. Theuse i t e pin 5 and slots 13 greatly simplify setting the dial 3 silcethe pin 5 is round (cylindrical) in shape and tends to help the operatorlocate the proper place.

It should be noted that the entire system will remain inoperative untilit is correctly set at one of the values on the face of the dial 5.

FIGURE 1 also shows cover which is fitted over the entire assembly. Thereason, mechanically, that dial 3 cannot be set until lever 1 is movedfrom position X to position Y is shown in FIGURE 1. Lever I. is providedwith an extension or shoulder 7 which obstructs the passage of hub 15through hole in the face plate until the lever a is in position Y.Moreover, said lever 1 will not hold any intermediate position but mustbe fully advanced to position Y to permit proper setting of the device.Also, as will be shown hereinafter, the dial 3 cannot be turned in anyamount unless and until it is pushed inward to the full proper extent.

In FZGURE 3 we see that lever arm 1 is equipped with a convenientextension or handle 21. Now observe that dial 3 is attached rigidly toshaft 23 which passes through bearin' 25, said bearing being mounted inthe front plate 33 of the main case of the control unit. Shaft 23 alsoextends to the back of the case where said shaft 23 is provided with ashoulder 55 caused by a slight reduction in the diameter of shaft 23,said reduced diameter section being identified by 24 and the same ishelo in place by bearing 27 which latter is mounted in the back plate ofthe controller unit case. Shaft 23 also passes through the center ofgear 4-1 which is also rigidly held in position on shaft 23. Around theoutside or" the bearing 27 is a compression spring 29 held in somecompression between the back plate 35 and the hub of gear 41. Gear 41 isin constant mesh with vertical rack for reasons to be shown hereinafter.it will now be clear how the dial 3 is pushed ag the thrust of spring 29and the inward push or motion of the dial by the operator is limited bythe contact of the shoulder 45 which contacts the bearing 27 when dial 3has been pushed inward to the proper amount and so held while settingthe values.

Lever 1 is firmly attached to a shaft 47 which passes through and isheld in position by bearing 49 and ring 51 and said shaft 47 extends toa bearing 53 in the back plate 35 and is held in position thereby.Fastened around the part of shaft 4-7, nearest to the bearing 53 is acoil spring 55 of considerable force, said spring 55 held in tensionbetween the ends thereof, one of which is fixed firmly to pin 57 in theback plate and the other similarly held by pin 59 in shaft 47. Thedrawing shows the spring in its wound-up or tightened position withlever 1 in the Y position.

Also rigidly fixed to shaft 47 are plates 57 and 59, better shown inFIGURES 2 and 3, which plates 57 and 59 act as a lever, being alsopivotally attached to piston rod 61 by means of pin 66, FIGURE 4, whichpasses upward and downward with respect to cylinder 63, the latter beingheld with respect to the vertical by pin or shaft 65 which passesthrough the upper part of cylinder 63. Said pin or shaft 65 is held inposition by fitting into holes in the front plate 33 and the back plate35 with the aid of rings 67 on each end. In the drawing, the piston 69,shown in phantom, is in the down or cocked position. Near the top ofcylinder 63 it is fitted with a rather thick plug 71 which tightly sealsthe head of cylinder 63. Into this cylinder 63 and through plug 71 isattached fitting '73 which receives the air impuse from cylinder 63through prepared passageways 75 and 77. Said fitting receives tubularpassageway 17 to which it is tightly affixed by nut 79. Now it can beseen that when the lever 1 is quickly released the force of the spring55 causes the shaft 47 to rotate, forcing the piston rod 611 and piston69 rapidly upward, thus sending an increased pressure out of cylinder 63through fitting 73 and tube 17 toward the controlled valve and causesthe latter to quickly close the fuel delivery line.

In FIGURE 3, showing a view in the horizontal plane, some of the partson previous drawings are identified but new and additional parts appear.These shown at the left of the assembly cannot be clearly understoodwithout considering also the drawing in FIGURE 4, which latter shows aview in a plane perpendicular to the axis of shaft 23. In these twoviews there is a vertical shaft or lead screw 81 with a substantialportion threaded 83 with a definite number of threads per inch which hasa bearing on the divisions in the calibration of dial 3. Toward thebottom of shaft 81 there is a portion of reduced diameter 85. At the topof said shaft 81 is a collar 89 which can be used to adjust said shaftupwards or downward within certain limits for proper adjustment to theaction of other parts. The shaft 81 is attached to flexible shaft i5 bya special means to be described hereinafter. The top of shaft 81 is heldproperly by a suitable bearing 177 (FlGURE 5) in top plate 37. There isalso a stationary shaft 91 held in and between top plate 37 and bottomplate 39 by suitable rings 93. A metal bracket 95 with both top andbottom portions thereof 97 bent at right angles to the main part ofbracket 95, said angle portions 97 thereof being on the same side ofbracket '95. Said angle portions of the bracket 95 are equipped withsuitable bearings 19 in both top and bottom angle portions 97, saidbearings 92? being provided to permit said bracket to move freely up anddown shaft 91 around which shaft 91 the bearings 99 fit. Since shaft 93;is round in cross section, said bracket assembly can also rotate aroundshaft 91 wi hin the limits available. Fastened rigidly, by any suitablemeans, to the bracket 95 is a vertical angle plate 161 (FIGURE 3) whichextends the full length of the bracket, vertically. The short side 163of the angle plate 1:51 extends toward shaft 23, parallel to the back ofthe case 35 a sufiicient distance to terminate along a vertical line,said line being closer to shaft 23 than the outside periphery of the hub31 of gear 41 and is so positioned that the hub 31 of gear 41 willthrust against the angle 1&3 of plate 1 31 when the dial 3 is pushedinward to effect the setting of the control mechanism.

Fastened along a vertical line and to plate MP1 is a rack 43 which alsoextends the full length of said plate and which is so positioned as toalways be in mesh with gear 41 in all possible positions of the latter.Also mounted on plate ltll as said plate extends frontward past theshaft 81 with its screw threaded section 33 is a section of a threadednut 1&5 having threads to exactly match the threads 83 on shaft 81. Saidthreaded nut section 165 is mounted near the bottom of plate fill and onthe back face thereof in a position to fit into the threads 33 on shaft51 when necessary. On the inside of said partial nut and at the bottomthereof, as mounted, is a very small shoulder 197 which fits the curveor circumference of shaft 81 at the small flange 169 near the bottom andwhich flange 109 is a part of shaft 81; The length of the reduceddiameter portion 85 of shaft 81 is of such a length that the threadednut section can freely be positioned within the space withoutnecessarily touching either the bottom of the threaded section 33 ofshaft 81 or the flange section 109 of said shaft 81. At the bottom ofplate 101 is a short vertical projection 111. The vertical edge ofprojection 111 toward the front of the control unit is substantiallyparallel to the axis of shaft 81 and along the center line of said'shaft81, said line running parallel to the front plate 33.

The position of plate 101 with respect to its possible rotation aroundshaft 91 (FIGURE is constantly governed by its position between a fixedpin 127 and a roller 129, both of which can and do move together whennecessary. This is best seen in comparing the drawings in FIGURES 3, 4and 5.

Mounted on the front plate 33 at a predetermined and specific locationthere is a stud type bolt 113 (FIGURE 3), with shoulder 117 held by nut115, on which is mounted in order (inward) a bearing 121 (FIGURE 5) andretainer 123. The bearing is provided to support part 125 which is inthe shape of a rectangular parallelopiped and which extends as shown,above and below the place of support of bearing 121. Near the upper endof part 125, a pin 133 is fixed through part 125 and extends inwardthrough a spacer collar 131 and roller 129 with retaining ring 135. Theother end of pin 133 extends outwardly toward the front plate 33sufiiciently to form a post to support one end of coil spring 119. Theother end of coil spring 119 which passes in coils around collar 117, isheld by a suitable pin 137 in front plate 33. Spring 119 is kept inconstant tension to a moderate degree. Roller 129 is held against theedge of plate 101 by the force of spring 119.

A curved pin 127, also suported by part 125, passes around behind plate101 and is held fixed in close to said plate 101 at the line oftangential contact between roller 129 and plate 101 with only a smallclearance between the plate 101 and pin 127. Curved pin 127 passesthrough part 125 on a line parallel to the face of part 125 and passesalso through the larger pin 133, thus serving to hold the latter inposition. The plates 57 and 59 (FIG- URE 2), which are connected to thelower end of piston rod 61 are also rigidly fastened to a relativelythick block 139 (FIGURE 3) which has a thickness of about the same valueas the diameter of piston rod 61. Said block 139 is provided with a holethrough which shaft 47 (FIGURE 2) passes and to which shaft block 139 isrigidly fastened by means of set screw 143 (FIGURE 4) and thereforerotates therewith.

In addition to the plates 57 and 59 there is also another plate 151(FIGURE 2) fastened to the outside of plate 57 through which shaft 47also passes. Said plate 151, shown in drawings in FIGURES 2, 4 and 5, isprovided with metal projections 145 and 147 as shown. Plates 151, 57 and59, together with block 139 form an assembly which is held together withscrew 141 (FIGURE 4) and fit on the common shaft 47 to which shaft 47the assembly is held in its proper position by means of a set screw 143.

Part 125 shown in part sectional view in FIG. 5, is shown in FIG. 4 inits side view, only downward to a section just above plate 151. Actuallythe lower part 125 has a pin 149 mounted therein, which pin projectsoutward toward plate 151, as shown in FIG. 5. This pin is moved fromposition A to position B, FIG. 4, by the movement of plate 151 with itsprojections 145 and 147 when shaft 47 is rotated by moving lever 1 fromposition X to position Y (FIGURE 1).

In FIGURE 4 three difierent positions which pin 149 will occupy duringthe operation of the control unit are indicated by the letters A, B andC. When lever 1 is pulled downward from position X to position Y, itactually travels beyond position Y for a short distance during whichmotion plate 151 with angle projection 145 moves upward enough tocontact pin 149 in position A, said pin 149 being urged toward position13 by the angle of the projection 145. When lever 1 is released it willremain in the Y position since the projection 147 on plate 151 now willbe held by pin 149 in position B, as shown in FIGURE 4. When pin 149 isin position B, its movement from position A to position B causes thecurved pin 127 and roller 129 to move in the opposite direction justenough to cause plate 101 with nut section 105 attached to move awayfrom the reduced section of shaft 81 sufrlciently to permit nut sectionto drop downward and catch the shoulder 107 of said nut section 105 onthe larger diameter part 109 of shaft 81. When plate 101 with attachednut section 105 is moved farther away from shaft 81 by pushing inward ondial 3 for setting, as described hereinbefore, the pin 149 will occupyposition C with respect to plate 151.

When the nut section 105 travels downward and drops into the spaceafforded by the reduced diameter part 85 of shaft 81, plate 101 movestoward shaft 81 followed by roller 129 which causes pin 149 to return toposition A, thus releasing plate 151.

Before we get further it might be helpful to know the functions andreasons for the parts we have so far identified. The timing mechanism isbased on the movement of the threaded nut section 105 along the threadedscrew section of shaft 81. Since screw 31 is driven from the counterindicator or metering device through flexible shaft 15, it wouldnormally rotate when fuel is delivered and if nut section 105 were heldin close contact with screw section 83, the distance said nut section105 would travel would be proportional to the amount of fuel indicatedon the counter.

Now let us follow the action of setting the mechanism by the operator orattendant. The first thing to do is pull down lever 1 from X to Y, thelimit of travel. This rotates shaft 47, causing angledprojection 145 tocontact pin 149, pushing said pin 149 from position A, FIGURE 4, toposition B. Since pin 149 is attached-to and substantially a part oflever and said pin moves in an are around center fixed pin 113, themovement of said pin from position A to position B causes plate 101 torotate slightly counterclockwise, FIGURE 3, around fixed shaft 91, saidmotion being produced by the movement of pin 127, which is mounted onthe top of arm 125, opposite the location of pin 149. This slightmovement of plate 101 with the attached nut section 105 is sufficient topermit said nut section 105 to drop by force of spring 153 to theposition shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, where the shoulder 107 of nut section105 now rests on the part 109 of shaft 81. This position of nut section105 causes pin 149 to remain in position B, thus holding lever 1 inposition Y since now the projection 147 of plate 151 is above pin 149which it can notpass in position B. This provides for cocking the lever1 and holding it in place, as described above. Now the operator, inorder to set the device for the amount of fuel to be delivered, mustpush dial 3 inward, toward the back of the case, in order to turn thedial. When the dial 3 is so pushed inward it moves the position of gear41 (FIGURE 2) with its hub 31 against angle plate 103 (FIGURE 3) whilethe said 7 gear 41 is still in mesh with vertical rack 43. The movementof gear hub 31 against angle plate 103 now moves nut 'ection 105 awayfrom shaft 81 and the threaded section 83 thereof, so that the positionof said nut section with respect to the shaft 81 can be changed. Sincegear 41 is fixed to shaft 23, as is also dial 3, moving the dial 3 in aclockwise direction causes gear 41 to raise the plate assembly 95, 97,101, 103 and 105. This is because rack 43, in constant mesh with gear41, is attached firmly to plate 101 and the entire assembly moves upwardalong the shaft 91. \Vhen the operator (attendant) releases the dial 3the plate assembly containing nut section 105 moves clockwise (FIGURE 3)permitting roller 129 to be held in firm contact with plate 101 which inturn holds

1. A CONTROL DEVICE FOR ATTACHMENT TO A LIQUID DISPENSER CONNECTED TOLIQUID SUPPLY MEANSFOR CONVEYING LIQUID FROM A BULK SUPPL.Y THEREOF TOAN OUTLETT NOZZLE VALVE, A COMPUTER COOPERATING WITH SAID SUPPLY MEANSFOR COMPUTING THE MONETARY VALUE OF THE LIQUID DISPENSED, SAID CONTROLDEVICE ADAPTED TO BE DRIVEN BY THE LIQUID DISPENSER AND ADAPTED TODISCONTINUE LIQUID FLOW FROM SAID OUTLET NOZZLE WHEN A PRESELECTEDMONETARY VALUE OF LIQUID HAS FLOWED THERETHROUGH, SAID CONTROL DEVICECOMPRISING; ACTUATOR MEANS CONNECTED TO THE COMPUTER TO BE DRIVENTHEREBY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MONETARY RATE BEING INDICATED BY SAIDCOMPUTER, IMPULSE MEANS ADAPTED TO CLOSE THE OUTLET VALVE, RELEASE MEANSOPERATED BY THE ACTUATOR MEANS TO ACTIVATE THE IMPULSE MEANS, ANDMANUALLY OPERATED MEANS FOR COCKING AND SETTING THE RELEASE MEANS AT APOSITION CORRESPONDING TO A PREDETERMINED SELECTED MONETARY VALUE TO BERECORDED ON THE COMPUTER.